He was born in Austin, TX on October 14, 1922, to Guillermo and Raquel Walls. Bill was raised in Austin, TX, and graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (B.A. 1942). He went on to get a Master of Science degree in Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin (M.S. 1949). Bill was a proud member of the United States Army Air Services (USAAS) from October 1942 through October 1945. The branch was the major land-based aerial warfare component of the United States during World War II. He was a Flight Officer based at Bartow Army Airfield in Florida. During his service, Bill flew the P-51 Mustang and was a flying instructor for others in his squadron. His main responsibilities kept him within the United States as he piloted fighter aircrafts in engineering flights, formation flying, and gunnery missions.
Bill married Esther Marroquin Walls in 1947 in Ft. Worth, Texas and the couple had three children. He was a Chief Geologist at Exxon Mobile where he worked for more than 35 years. During his tenure with Exxon Mobile, he was able to oversee various international projects in the coal and oil division. Esther enjoyed accompanying him on each of these business trips and they enjoyed sharing their memories and experiences with the family.
Upon retirement, Bill worked for H&R Block as a tax advisor and an instructor for over 18 years. In his spare time, Bill was an avid reader, worked in the yard, played golf, and went on family road trips. Bill also enjoyed taking his family on ski trips and it brought him great joy to watch his two daughters compete in slalom skiing. Bill was also a ping pong and yo-yo champion at TCU, and he loved to challenge the family to a fun game of ping pong.
He is survived by his loving wife of 76 years Esther Walls, and three children, Deborah J. Grambling (Jeffery Lantz), Betsy A. Crawford (Ron Crawford), and William A. Walls (Shelly Lanich). He is also survived by four grandchildren, Emily P. Willick (Michael J. Willick), Jason R. Grambling (Nicole M. Grambling), Geri R. Sutterfield (Storm L. Sutterfield), David R. Kirk (Elisabeth A. Kirk) and five great-grandchildren, Christian Willick, Colton Willick, Caleb Willick, James Grambling, and Audrey Grambling.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to the Dementia Society of America at www.dementiasociety.org (donate by mail to Dementia Society of America P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901) or to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.
Services entrusted to Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 7990 President George Bush Turnpike Dallas, TX 75252.
PALLBEARERS
Geri Sutterfield
Ronald Crawford
Jeffery Lantz
Christian Willick
Michael Willick
Jason Grambling
DONATIONS
Dementia Society of AmericaPO BOX 600, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901
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